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College transport non existent

107 replies

Reallyneedsaholiday · 10/02/2026 12:12

Why is it so shit? DD goes to our “local” college. 18 miles away. Minimum 3 buses or bus, train, bus and 15 minute walk. Minimum 2 1/2 hours to get there. When she signed up, in September, there was a direct bus, albeit meandering, which took an hour and a half, running once a day (7am) to college and then once a day leaving college at 5pm (home at 7pm). That lasted until October, when they cancelled it. Now, she needs to leave the house at 6.30 and doesn’t get home until 8pm, when the buses are running properly. This morning, she’s just come home after leaving at 6.30, still not even having made it there, due to bus cancellations and diversions (in case of scepticism she has photos of the bus stop signs saying “cancelled”) So that was £12 down the drain for transport costs to nowhere. I can’t take her myself, as I don’t have a car. I really don’t know what to do anymore. She’s unmotivated to even try and get there anymore (don’t really blame her). She’s missed quite a bit (although her attendance isn’t the worst in the group). If she leaves, I could be fined and would lose all child benefit, child maintenance etc. without qualifications it’s really hard to get a job. We don’t live “in the back of beyond” but in a reasonable sized and growing town. AIBU to think that a reasonable standard of (affordable and efficient) public transport should be available for college, especially given that it is a legal requirement to remain in education until 18?

OP posts:
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Toetouchingtitties · 14/02/2026 17:25

Is there a college further away that is on a more direct transport route / less time traveling?

Needmorelego · 14/02/2026 17:10

@Reallyneedsaholiday does your daughter know if other students are having the same or similar problem?
It might be worth finding out and if so the head of the college and the bus company could maybe talk to each other and figure out a solution.
Also look at all the different tickets available. DayRiders usually cover a large area. Look at season/monthly tickets etc.

sittingonabeach · 14/02/2026 16:55

Are there bursaries available @Reallyneedsaholiday

Reallyneedsaholiday · 14/02/2026 16:50

Needmorelego · 14/02/2026 12:41

I mentioned upthread about a relative of mine that if they rode a moped/bike to get to college they wouldn't have to go on a motorway but they would have to cross the bridge that is the junction to a motorway.
It's a pretty chaotic junction with huge lorries all over it.
Why do people not accept that there simply isn't a safe and sensible route to get the college.
The OP said there was a perfectly fine bus service but it was stopped a month after college started.
The daughter picked the college and at the time of choosing it there was public transport available.
How could the OP and her daughter have predicted that?
Stop saying "move house/get a car/ride a bike"..... it's not simple to just be able to do that.
@Reallyneedsaholiday do you know why the original bus service stopped?

I assume that not enough people were using it on the original route. Theres still buses that go from the city to the town where the college is, but they don't detour into our town to go there anymore. She could get another bus to a point where she could pick up the route, but thats an addition cost (as each bus ride is a single fare), and another link in the journey that can cause more time and delays. Thank you

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 14/02/2026 15:16

toomuchfaff · 14/02/2026 14:19

Are you the OP?

I dont care about your route and its crossing bridge. I'm answering and giving a potential solution to the OP and stating that if there is a motorway, there will be a non motorway solution.

Its not all about you....

No I am not the OP.
I was just saying that not everywhere has an alternative safe route.
The OP has already said a moped/bike wouldn't be suitable so why people can't accept that I don't know.
Edit: from my relatives village there isn't really a "non motorway" route as the junction is essentially an extension of it - it technically is a different road but it's manic and full of HGVs.

toomuchfaff · 14/02/2026 14:19

Needmorelego · 14/02/2026 12:41

I mentioned upthread about a relative of mine that if they rode a moped/bike to get to college they wouldn't have to go on a motorway but they would have to cross the bridge that is the junction to a motorway.
It's a pretty chaotic junction with huge lorries all over it.
Why do people not accept that there simply isn't a safe and sensible route to get the college.
The OP said there was a perfectly fine bus service but it was stopped a month after college started.
The daughter picked the college and at the time of choosing it there was public transport available.
How could the OP and her daughter have predicted that?
Stop saying "move house/get a car/ride a bike"..... it's not simple to just be able to do that.
@Reallyneedsaholiday do you know why the original bus service stopped?

Are you the OP?

I dont care about your route and its crossing bridge. I'm answering and giving a potential solution to the OP and stating that if there is a motorway, there will be a non motorway solution.

Its not all about you....

Needmorelego · 14/02/2026 12:41

toomuchfaff · 14/02/2026 12:27

No but there will be a non motorway option to get anywhere. I know this as I rode a motorbike for several years on both a CBT licence and a full licence.

I mentioned upthread about a relative of mine that if they rode a moped/bike to get to college they wouldn't have to go on a motorway but they would have to cross the bridge that is the junction to a motorway.
It's a pretty chaotic junction with huge lorries all over it.
Why do people not accept that there simply isn't a safe and sensible route to get the college.
The OP said there was a perfectly fine bus service but it was stopped a month after college started.
The daughter picked the college and at the time of choosing it there was public transport available.
How could the OP and her daughter have predicted that?
Stop saying "move house/get a car/ride a bike"..... it's not simple to just be able to do that.
@Reallyneedsaholiday do you know why the original bus service stopped?

toomuchfaff · 14/02/2026 12:27

No but there will be a non motorway option to get anywhere. I know this as I rode a motorbike for several years on both a CBT licence and a full licence.

toomuchfaff · 14/02/2026 12:25

Meadowfinch · 13/02/2026 13:43

....apart from being extremely dangerous, and unsuitable for snowy or icy days.

I know because I went to sixth form on a moped. I wouldn't want my child to do it.

I hope you can afford to buy them a car then, or live in a place with good transport coverage.

Neither of the things OP has.

Peridoteage · 14/02/2026 11:48

Is there a secondary school with a sixth form closer by, or did she miss the grade requirements for it?

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 14/02/2026 11:44

Definitely contact the local MP and bus provider to see about reinstating the bus route. They threatened to close our very well used and efficient local small bus route until we protested. Then they backfired! No idea why it was originally planned to be shelved as it’s very well used!

Itsmetheflamingo · 14/02/2026 11:37

I’m not going to offer options as that’s not what OP asked and I’m sure she can think of them all herself.

but I do think there is a general point in parents not really thinking about this. It’s totally normal in unconnected areas(and a bus twice a day taking 90 mins is prettty unconnected imo)

my cousins were in a French ski resort and at a certain age everyone had to board. There was no way to access secondary education on a daily basis so you simply left your parents home to do so.
there are lots of online options in other remote communities

in the uk we haven’t really moved on from “they should be able to get there without me doing much” and maybe that’s just not realistic

PinkFrogss · 14/02/2026 11:29

BlueMum16 · 14/02/2026 10:52

How much is an Uber? Even one way?

Do the college have a car sharing scheme she can ask on?

If OP is going to consider Ubers she could instead contact local taxi companies and see if they’ll agree regular routine taxis at a discount. Cheaper and more reliable than uber.

But probably still more expensive than the £12 a day OP can only just afford.

BlueMum16 · 14/02/2026 10:52

How much is an Uber? Even one way?

Do the college have a car sharing scheme she can ask on?

Harrietsaunt · 14/02/2026 10:52

If she really cannot get there now, and there is nowhere closer where she can study, she will have to get a job I guess?

An apprenticeship would still require some college attendance I think.

sittingonabeach · 14/02/2026 10:50

@Nourishinghandcream I was replying to another poster. But it demonstrates how the landscape of 6th Form provision has changed

Nourishinghandcream · 14/02/2026 10:47

@sittingonabeach
Andover to Basingstoke is 28 miles by motorway. Those buses will be going the more scenic and therefore longer route.

Not certain how Basingstoke & Andover come into it (don't think the OP mentioned them?) but they are certainly not connected by motorway, it is the A303 and the A30. Duel carriageway yes but certainly not motorway.

sittingonabeach · 14/02/2026 10:03

@EBearhug thank you for the link. Those buses wouldn’t have helped me then. But does show the way 6th form provision has changed. Those buses go to Andover and Newbury. I wouldn’t say either of those towns are rural and they are pretty large but I also wouldn’t have thought anyone from those towns would have gone to QMC in my day, so the 6th form provision which was available then must have gone or have a much more restricted offer than it did. Andover to Basingstoke is 28 miles by motorway. Those buses will be going the more scenic and therefore longer route.

So all the smug people saying OP shouldn’t live where she does and there’s 6th form provision where they live doesn’t mean there always will be.

Bryonyberries · 14/02/2026 09:53

We have a bus service, although unreliable, but it cost £400 a term to buy the bus pass which you have to pay upfront, no instalment options.

Staying in education is great in theory but they definitely didn’t look at how difficult and expensive it is for families in rural areas.

Mine have all starting driving lessons as soon as they reach 17 because of how difficult it is to get places without a car here.

TSHconfusion · 14/02/2026 09:48

Could she take a year out to work and save for driving lessons and a car then start college again next year? I know doesn’t seem ideal but doesn’t seem like she can reliably get there without a car

EBearhug · 14/02/2026 09:44

I went to QMC many many years ago and I can’t remember there being buses from there. There certainly wasn’t one to where I lived
There were two double deckers coming out of the road last night, and there's nothing else down there, as it's not a through road. But to be fair, I was mostly focussed on not driving into anything else on the roundabout. So I googled. https://www.qmc.ac.uk/qmc-direct-bus-service/

(Sorry, OP, this doesn't help you.)

sittingonabeach · 14/02/2026 09:33

@Secretseverywhere OP mentioned motorway.

@EBearhug I went to QMC many many years ago and I can’t remember there being buses from there. There certainly wasn’t one to where I lived

Another school sixth form in a neighbouring county to where I live has just announced its closure. The 16-19 landscape is definitely changing

Secretseverywhere · 14/02/2026 09:08

Reallyneedsaholiday · 10/02/2026 19:33

🤣🤣🤣🤣

I know you laughed at this but my eldest (16) does a 23 mile cycle to college. Joined the gym so can go and shower on site. Takes clean clothes in the panniers. I got an Ebike on a salary sacrifice scheme for my job.

treeowl · 14/02/2026 09:02

YABU for living in the middle of no where without think ahead to where your kids would go for their education.

I think people don’t realise how much the landscape has changed. My colleague is in a fairly built up part of Surrey & her dd has a 3 hour plus journey to & from college & only 1 mode of transport.

ArticWillow · 14/02/2026 08:51

Contact the college.

If others are in a similar situation, the attendance records will show and they might be able to point you into the right direction.

Generally you & DD need to try and find other students in your town or village and pool together. Either car share or pay for a taxi or mini bus.

Public transport is shit but as things are these days, travelling to & from work or college is normal. You need to see the bigger picture here and get your DD more mobile.

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